1. Using the wide canning lid, trace circles onto several different patterns of fabric. One tree ornament will require six circles.

2. Sew each circle into a yo-yo.For this ornament I folded the edge down about 1/4 inch and ran my thread through as shown, then pulled it tight, and created my yo-yo. To see how to sew a yo-yo, you can search tutorials on YouTube or other sites on-line.

3. Arrange the yo-yo's to form a tree, with one, then two underneath that, and then another three underneath (see very top photo).

4. Sew yo-yo's together, from the backsides, of where they touch.

5. Cut a piece of scrap material about 1 1/2 inches wide by 4 inches long. Turn right sides together, by folding cut ends at one end and a fold at the other. Using a straight stitch on a sewing machine, or hand sew, the right and left side(referring to the above photo). Leave the top open. Turn inside out. This is your tree trunk.

6. Fill the tree truck with the tiny scraps you cannot do anything else with.

7. Gently fold down the inside about 1/4 inch and sew to the back of the bottom middle yo-yo.

8.This is the point in which I recommend taking an iron and gently iron the back and front to shape the ornament.

9. Sew a button to the middle (front) of the top yo-yo, but catch the thread through the bottom of whatever you use for the hanger, on the backside. Here we used scrap ribbon. You could use anything that you can sew onto the ornament (scrap twine etc.)10. Sew a button onto the remainder of the yo-yo's by bringing the thread in from the backside, and knotting on the backside.

Front View

Back view

Note: Make these a bit smaller by using a regular size canning lid for a template.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Here is yet another ornament I made several years ago. It's simply made with rope and ribbon. You also, may have seen this posted on my other blog last Christmas.

If you have a few scraps of rope, try making a creative ornament.

For this we used rope that was about 1/4 inch in diameter. We cut 2 eight inch pieces, and tied 1/4 inch ribbon around both ends, creating the shape of a heart. You may have to work with the rope to get it to hold this shape.

The hanger portion (green ribbon) is 1/8 inch wide ribbon.

You never know what we'll create for next Christmas, so be sure to sign up as a follower, if you haven't already.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

In some areas, your plastic peanut butter container (the bottom) is accepted at your local recycling center. However, the lids are usually not. Why not find another use for the entire container? Save yourself money, and keep the Earth healthy. Here are few ways our family found new uses for cleaned and washed peanut butter containers:

1. Make a Button Jar. Fill it with buttons and add to your child's hope chest. Use it to store buttons in your home for sewing needs and craft uses. For an added touch, drill 4 holes in the lid and smooth away sharp edges. On the underside run scrap rope, string or twine (thick) to make the appearance of a button hole. Collect all those extra buttons you receive attached to new clothing and fill the container over time.

2. Wash and dry them to use for gift giving homemade treats. Be sure to wrap your items before placing inside the container. Attach a gift card, tie on a ribbon and add a bow on top.

3. Store beads or other craft supplies.4. Store nails, screws, or other hardware supplies.5. Drill small air holes in the lid and let the kits catch bugs.6. Flip the lid upside down for a candle holder or a container to hold small office supplies. 7. Use the bottom half for a pencil holder, or decoupage for a small flower vase.8. Fill it with water, place the lid back on, and take it on the go for painting projects.9. When the jar is down to the last bit, fill the jar with cut pieces of celery and take it camping or hiking.10. Use the lid for a craft template. 11. Use the lid in the kitchen for cutting biscuits or cookie dough.12. Store crayons or small colored pencils for taking kids projects on the go.13. Use them to store dry cereal or other dry ingredients for home, for camping or other traveling. We crack eggs, pour them into jars and keep them in our ice cooler when camping. It's great for keeping cheese slices dry in an ice cooler as well.14. . . . .will add more as we develop uses for them.

Here is another easy handmade Christmas ornament. It's made from one white golf tee, a wooden bead painted white and glued to the golf tea, scrap rick rack, and a plastic top hat.

Note: Having a scrap piece of styrofoam around, while making these, helps in the painting and gluing process. Simply press the pointed end of the golf tee into the styrofoam.

I'm not sure if you will able to locate the same top hats that I did, but there are so many possibilities of creating a hat for these cute ornaments (button and pony bead, scrap craft foam or other scraps).

I also made a Santa ornament using a golf tee. I'll post a photo of that one soon.

These are fun for everyone, especially someone who loves to play golf.

Using the same beginning instructions as the Snowman Clothespin Ornament, my 13 year-old daughter made this "farmgirl" ornament. She used scrap ribbon, fabric, button (inside the farmgirl purse), and scrap doll hair.

About Me

I am a stay-at-home mother in a blended family with six children, writer, journal junkie, garden grower, herb grower, food canner, tatter, knitter, crocheter, crafter of many other materials, reader, hiker, camper, forager, and the care taker of Rooster's Crow Farm - a farm where we strive to be self sufficient.

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